Introduction
The Common Admission Test (CAT) exam is a national level management entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to their MBA and PGDM programs. The CAT exam consists of three sections – Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR). The CAT exam is known to be very competitive and challenging for students due to its complex exam pattern and difficulties associated with each section.
While all sections require thorough preparation and practice, certain sections like Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning are often considered relatively more difficult compared to the Verbal Ability section. In this article, we analyze the level of difficulty associated with each CAT section and explore why some sections are perceived as harder based on previous years’ exam analysis and expert opinions.
Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT exam is considered one of the most challenging sections by many test takers. This section tests a candidate’s mathematical skills through 34 questions that need to be solved in 75 minutes. The questions cover a wide range of quantitative topics including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, numbers, time and work problems.
According to experts, the difficulty level of the quant section has been increasing over the past few years. The test makers intentionally design this section to be very difficult, with convoluted problems that require strong fundamental knowledge and logical thinking abilities. Questions often include tricky calculations, complex data interpretation charts, and word problems with missing information. Test takers have to solve these problems accurately at a fast pace under time pressure.
An analysis by CollegeDuniya https://collegedunia.com/exams/cat/paper-analysis-for-qa of previous years’ CAT exams found that students struggle the most with Arithmetic and Algebra, as these require quick thinking and calculation skills. Geometry questions involving visualization of shapes also tend to be challenging. Overall, the quant section tests both speed and accuracy, which is why many test takers find it the hardest section of the CAT exam.
Data Interpretation
The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section of the CAT exam is considered one of the most challenging sections by many test takers. This section tests a candidate’s ability to analyze data presented in tables, charts, graphs and passages and arrive at logical conclusions based on that data. Some of the key aspects of this section that make it difficult are:
Large Amount of Data: The data interpretation sets typically contain large amounts of numerical data that needs to be analyzed. Going through voluminous data and identifying relevant info is time-consuming.
Comprehension of Complex Graphs/Tables: The data is presented through various graphs like pie charts, bar graphs, line graphs etc. and in tabular format. Understanding and interpreting these quickly is crucial.
Logical Ability: One needs strong analytical and logical reasoning skills to derive meaningful insights from the given data sets. It requires lateral thinking.
Accuracy: Since the questions are usually calculation intensive, one wrong calculation can lead to an incorrect answer. Checking calculations is important.
Time Pressure: Due to the length and complexity of sets, time management is critical. The section has 24 questions to be solved in 40 minutes.
According to experts, solving numerous practice sets is the key to mastering this section. Learning shortcuts and techniques for faster calculation also helps overcome some of the challenges it presents. Source: https://cetking.com/prepare-data-interpretation-cat/
Verbal Ability
The Verbal Ability section of the CAT exam is considered by many to be one of the most challenging parts of the test. This section evaluates a candidate’s reading comprehension skills, vocabulary knowledge, and ability to reason verbally. Some of the key skills tested in this section include:
Reading Comprehension – Candidates need to read passages thoroughly and quickly identify the main idea, tone, logical structure and important details. The level of comprehension required is high.
Vocabulary – A wide vocabulary and knowledge of synonyms, antonyms, analogies and idioms is essential to fare well in some verbal ability question types.
Verbal Logic and Reasoning – Questions like verbal classification, verbal analogies etc. require strong logic and abstract reasoning abilities.
According to experts, the verbal section difficulty level ranges from moderate to high (Source 1). Questions often involve complex vocabulary and convoluted passage structures designed to confuse test takers. Though preparation can help overcome the challenges to an extent, verbal ability remains one of the harder sections to master for CAT aspirants.
Logical Reasoning
The logical reasoning section of the CAT exam is known to be one of the most challenging sections. This section tests a candidate’s ability to analyze and draw conclusions from a given set of statements or arguments. Some of the common types of logical reasoning questions include:
- Syllogisms – Statements with premises that lead to a conclusion
- Arguments – Identifying the reasoning behind an argument as strong or weak
- Assumptions – Finding implicit assumptions in statements
- Inferences – Drawing logical inferences from statements
Many test takers find the logical reasoning section difficult for the following reasons:
- It requires strong analytical and critical thinking abilities (https://bodheeprep.com/cat-logical-reasoning)
- The statements given can be long and complex
- There is a negative marking for incorrect answers
- It tests a different skill set compared to other sections
- There is significant time pressure to solve questions quickly
To master this section, consistent practice on a variety of reasoning question types is advised. Learning to break down complex statements, identify assumptions, strengthen logic skills, and manage time effectively can help overcome the difficulty of this section.
Previous Years’ Analysis
Over the last few years, the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section has consistently proven to be the most challenging for CAT exam takers. An analysis of the question paper stats from previous years shows that this section has had lower scores and more incorrect attempts compared to the other sections.
According to the CAT Exam Analysis, in 2020 the average score for QA was 8.25 out of 34, compared to around 12.46 out of 34 for Verbal Ability. The number of attempts and accuracy were also lower for QA. In 2019, the QA section had an average attempt of 16 questions with an accuracy of only 40%.
As per the CAT Exam Analysis 2023, a similar trend was observed in 2018 when the QA section had lower attempt rates compared to the other sections. Many test takers left several questions unattempted due to time constraints or difficulty level.
The key takeaway from analyzing previous years’ CAT papers is that Quantitative Aptitude poses the biggest challenge for most aspirants. Extensive practice and having strong fundamentals in quantitative concepts are critical to score well in this section.
Expert Opinions
Get opinions from CAT experts, teachers, and toppers on which section they believe is toughest and why.
According to Anisha Mukhija, a CAT expert and teacher, “The quantitative aptitude section is often considered the most difficult section of the CAT exam by most test takers. The questions require strong quantitative, logical and analytical thinking abilities” (Source).
Rahul Singh, a CAT topper from IIM Ahmedabad, said “In my experience, the logical reasoning section was the most difficult. The tricky logic-based questions often require lateral thinking and can be very time-consuming to solve” (Source).
Overall, quantitative aptitude and logical reasoning tend to be cited as the toughest sections by experts, requiring strong analytical and problem-solving skills under time pressure.
Preparation Tips
The key to cracking the hardest sections of the CAT exam is smart preparation and consistent practice. Experts recommend focusing on improving your fundamentals, solving previous years’ papers, and taking mock tests for the tough sections like Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. Here are some useful preparation tips from CAT experts:
Sharpen your basics in Quantitative Aptitude as recommended by Anisha from T.I.M.E. coaching institute. She says, “Quantitative Ability tests your conceptual knowledge so brush up on your math fundamentals including percentages, ratios, numbers, geometry, algebra etc” (Source).
For Logical Reasoning, CAT topper Aparajita recommends developing an analytical bend of mind. As per her, “This section is all about thinking logically and critically. Practice puzzles, seating arrangements, syllogisms etc. thoroughly” (Source).
Vaibhav suggests practicing previous CAT papers, especially for Quant and LRDI. He advises, “CAT tests your exam temperament and preparedness. So take section-wise mock tests under simulated exam conditions” (Source).
Final Analysis
After reviewing the data on the different sections of the CAT exam, some clear patterns emerge on which areas tend to be most challenging for test takers. Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning often prove to be the most difficult sections for many CAT exam takers.
The Quantitative Aptitude section tests a wide range of mathematical concepts and problem solving abilities. Questions on algebra, geometry, numbers, graphs and quantitative comparisons require strong math skills and the ability to solve problems quickly and accurately. Many students find this section quite difficult, especially if their math foundations are weak.
Logical Reasoning also poses a significant hurdle for CAT exam takers. This section tests critical thinking, reasoning and inference drawing skills through verbal logic questions, decision making scenarios and analytical puzzles. Mastering the various question types and strategies for this section requires diligent practice over an extended period of time.
Based on the data collected from previous years’ test analysis and expert opinions, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning stand out as the most difficult portions of the CAT exam. Scoring well on these two sections often makes the difference between clearing the exam cut-offs or not. Students should devote extra time and effort on building their quantitative, analytical and logical reasoning skills to maximize their chances of CAT exam success.
Conclusion
To conclude, based on the analysis of previous years’ CAT exam question papers and expert opinions, the Quantitative Aptitude section appears to be the most difficult section of the CAT exam. The complex calculations and formulas tested in Quant require strong fundamentals and regular practice to master. The Data Interpretation sets can also be challenging due to the need for accuracy and speed in interpreting tables and graphs. While Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability also test critical thinking, the Quant section specifically examines numerical aptitude which not all test takers possess. By focusing on building math skills, working on speed and accuracy, and taking many mock tests for practice, one can aim to tackle the Quant section effectively. Proper preparation and strategic planning are key to attempting this section well and maximizing CAT exam scores.